Father, You are most definitely all-powerful, infinitely more than my finite mind can even begin to comprehend, but with all that might, You still chose me to be in a relationship with You. And it is not just an acquaintance type of relationship but it is a close, personal, intimate relationship. You know all my darkest secrets, my greatest weaknesses and in spite of my frailty and feebleness, You still love me and encourage me to draw close to Your side…to learn and grow to become more like You with every interaction. All praise to You!
Luke 4:1 (<<click to read the passage)
One of my favorite memories from my youth was when, on occasion, we would go to a national park and be led on a nature hike by a park ranger. They were such a wealth of information! They seemed to know the answer to every question.
One memory that I have retained was about what I learned to call a Touch-Me-Not flower. It is more commonly known as the Jewelweed. Wikipedia states that it’s “seed pods have five valves which coil back rapidly to eject the seeds in a process called explosive dehiscence. This reaction is where the name ‘touch-me-not’ comes from; in mature seed pods, dehiscence can easily be triggered with a light touch.”
If I had not been led out into the woods, I would never have had that fun experience. But someone with a much more broad exposure to knowledge than I, knew what to look for and where to find them.
There are many times in life where this interaction takes place, from childhood and even into senior adulthood, as well. Admittedly, not all of our journeys lead us to the joy of Touch-Me-Not beds. Many times, we can find ourselves in very difficult – sometimes insurmountable – circumstances. Wouldn’t it be great if we had someone with a much more broad exposure to knowledge than you or I?
Well, God has definitely taken care of that! Today’s passage speaks of Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness. One awesome thing about the Holy Spirit is that He is not just a fair-weather guide. He is with us through each and every situation that life can throw at us.
And He is not just a companion! He is lightyears ahead of park rangers in that He knows everything there is to know about everything! He is the ultimate life guide. And we can trust Him to never lead us astray. We may be tempted to veer from the path which He sets us upon but, as my opening prayer reflects, if we draw close to His side, we will learn and grow and become more like Him with every interaction.
Lord Jesus, may it be so! Amen!
Dec 3rd, 2019, Tues, 6:57 pm
